dispersed the outlaws. On the 18th the body of Lieutenant Walker was found in a deep canyon and taken by Captain Page to Barili.

From all reports it appeared that the remnants of the band were moving north to concentrate in Guimpilican. Captain Page proceeded up the west coast to Tuburan, where he learned that on the 22d Lieutenant Poggi, with 23 constabulary and about 80 volunteers, had surrounded the high, rocky retreat in Guimpilican, and after a most desperate engagement killed more than 100 and captured 30 or 40. Lieutenant Poggi states that he does not believe over 30 escaped, and native reports confirm this information. This exploit of Lieutenant Poggi, assisted by a civilian named McBride, was without doubt most brilliant, and the results obtained are so satisfactory that it is believed it will be a long time before such a band can again get together in that section. In this attack the pulajans used bamboo ladders in scaling the rocks to reach their higher trenches, and Lieutenant Poggi's men followed on the same ladders so closely that the pulajans had not time to remove them. The majority of the force of volunteers closed upon the outlaws at the base of the hill and cut down all those who escaped from Lieutenant Poggi. Captain Page returned from a three weeks' expedition on the 5th of June, and reported the towns along the west coast as having rendered every assistance and ready at all times to furnish any number of volunteers required.

The last month of the year has been very quiet throughout the district. Heavy rains have visited all sections of all provinces and a good crop of corn and camotes can not fail to result. If the rains continue at the same rate a good crop of palay is assured, and as half the provinces depend upon their palay the result will materially affect the peace and tranquillity. Since the heavy rains of June 2 all classes of bandits have apparently been engaged in other pursuits. With the exception of an engagement with a few pulajans in Cebu and Samar, there have been no operations of the constabulary worthy of note. Pulajanism in Cebu is a thing of the past, for the present at least, and the latest victory in Samar by Lieutenant Abenis, in which he killed several officers and captured much valuable correspondence, will have a salutary effect upon that province.

SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

PULAJANISM.

Near the former pueblo of Dolores, in Tayabas Province, there is a sacred rock, to which the commonly called "Fanaticos" of the surrounding towns go at certain times to worship a form of native religion. In the mountains of San Cristobal and Banahao there live a sect which the people refer to as the "fanaticos." Ordinarily they are peaceful and live in various towns of Tayabas, Laguna, and Batangas. They have their anting-anting and have faith in its charms.

In the hills of all the southern provinces live a class of people who are distinct from the Filipino of the cities and the coast, in that they are more ignorant, know little of the outside world, and love their solitude and freedom. Although some recognize it in a measure, they are disinclined to accept the authority of the municipalities in whose jurisdiction they may be. They have their own headmen and leaders, and prefer a form of tribunal government, or at least give recognition to the one who can assume datoship over them by reason of personal force or the possession of a sufficient body of armed men.

In Samar this class of people are the most numerous, and there they do not hesitate to call themselves pulajans, which means that they are followers of the fanatical religious sect of the mountains. They ordinarily live peaceably, but may be called to action by their leaders to assist the armed force which controls them and referred to as "soldados" or "soldados militantes de la iglesia."

This is the force with which the government is called upon to contend when a band of the soldados militantes proceeds to execute the orders of its chief and commits robbery or murder as the chief may elect, for the good and welfare of the "iglesia" or of himself. Long before the American occupation some of these chiefs sought to spread their power and doctrines by sending agents and "soldados militantes" to other provinces to organize societies and incidentally stir things up. The result has been that in Leyte, Misamis, Negros, and Panay there are to be found the followers of this religion. Leyte, Misamis, and Cebu have in the last year suffered from the operations of the worst element of these fanatics, and now Negros and Bohol are threatened. To what extent the societies in Panay may develop remains to be seen. There appears to be a bit of this activity in this line in northern Antique. In warfare these pulajans may be likened unto Moros. They array themselves in gorgeous uniforms with red trimmings and sashes. They raid towns and occasionally kill women and children. They charge fearlessly, with their bolos flourishing before

them to turn aside the bullets, upon forces armed with rifles. The animal-like ferocity of some drives them right into the ranks and they usually do some damage before they can be dispatched. The majority, however, will turn and flee if the fire against them is well directed and sustained. I have seen individuals, knocked down by bullets, rise again to their feet and failing again in their second attempt to charge, hurl their bolos at the constabulary with their last strength. Even when down and apparently helpless, the fear of their "playing 'possum" saves our men from approaching too near until satisfied the pulajan is without power to give one more cut. Pulajans, dios-dios, colorados, cruz-cruz, soldados militantes de la iglesia, Santo Niños, and Cazadores are all religious fanatics. Their character, no matter by what name known, is identical. Their following is composed of the ignorant people of the mountains and the vagabond, worthless characters of the towns. Their leaders are men with just enough learning and knowledge of the world to enable them to work upon the credulity of the "tao" element. They are opposed to any form of government and particularly hate the American, and there is some feeling that they are not entirely without sympathy of those agitators who have hopes that this continual strife may yet force America to still better terms or precipitate another general insurrection in which they can remain passively loyal until the tide is favorable. Their object, or first the leader's object, is for gain; for love of leadership, and for personal pride in being considered exalted and worshipful by the masses. In all provinces the chief source of gain is the selling of cedulas (identification cards), bottles, and inscribed papers of "anting-anting," or in our language charms against evil. You are told that if you do not buy these you will be killed, which is sometimes true.

The object of the followers and leaders as well can be attributed to many causes or reasons, as not everyone can be said to be guided by the same thoughts. There are some reasons which may be assigned to all alike, and those are: The characteristic savage instinct which makes paramount the desire to dominate, to kill their enemies, to live without working, a diversion, to have power to satisfy every brutal desire, to have independence, not national independence with a constituted government, but an individual independence, and lastly, and that which gains for them the sympathy of many educated Filipinos, their hatred for the Americans. They are anarchists purely. The following letter is a sample of the means taken to gain adherents to

the cause:

"The PRESIDENTE,

"Municipio of Minglanilla:

"Immediately after you are informed of the present communication, you must consider our sorrowful situation. I being the envoy of the powerful God to arrange this province, undoubtedly I will fulfill what the Almighty God has disposed, because the time of liberty for the Philippine Islands has already sounded and undoubtedly will so happen.

"I have sent communications to all towns, asking their opinions, if they intend to take part in the general outbreak. I would like to know as soon as possible if you agree to take part in the movement. In case favorable, I will be pleased that you

send here the guns and revolvers in your charge. 62 ANASTASIO DE LA CRUZ,

"The First Teacher."

Their own objects and reasons they confess as follows: Belief in the powers of their leaders; belief that the anting-anting will protect them against bullets, bolos, or spears of their enemies; an opportunity to wreak personal vengeance upon municipal officials or residents of the towns, to kill unbelievers, and drive out the Americans; independence, a new religion opposed to the present established church, which they know is without power to punish them as of old; fear of personal violence. The last is the excuse when cowed and asking mercy. It is also true to some extent, but the savage delight in the opportunities offered readily overcomes any intellectual conception of right and wrong.

The cause can readily be deduced from the object and reasons. Some natives say hunger drives men to it. This may be an influence, but it only serves as an excuse, for the worst sections have heretofore been in hemp provinces, where a few days' work on what nature so bountifully provides will give them good living for an entire month. The principal reason for the continuance and spread of pulajanism is, in my opinion, the agitations of the unfortunate conditions in the islands; the loss of the prestige of the Roman Catholic Church, which gives opportunity to new self-styled divinities; agitators, nacionalistas; Aglipayanos and pessimists, who are continually bemoaning their fate and who can see nothing good in the future. The retired position of the American troops and scouts and their final withdrawal lent hopes to the leaders and gave credence to their statements that the Americans had given up hopes of opposing them and were leaving the islands.

Superstition in the natives is so strong that the belief in the invulnerability of the pulajan leaders, who are experts in the anting-anting business, is even manifest in our guides, cargadores, and even our spies who go into their camps. Two members of the constabulary serving in Leyte were dismissed the service solely because they told their companions that there must be something "in it," as they had repeatedly fired on pulajans and never killed any.

More prompt and energetic enforcement of present laws will be effective preventatives. The people really fear the sureness of a severe law more than the spasmodic operations of the armed forces. Imprisonment under the present law is without effect upon those left behind. A few prompt executions on the public squares of the larger towns would have a most wholesome effect. There have been many murders and convictions for bandolerismo, but as yet not one hanging in all the southern islands since the establishment of civil government. Reason and education can not help the present situation until after many years.

The events of the past year and the present situation is worthy of profound thought, and full consideration should be given to this social feature of these islands, which threatens to continue to be a menace to peace and tranquillity. These spasmodic uprisings may be put down as long as they come one at a time, but in the event that they should become general, the civil government might be sorely embarrassed to cope effectively with the situation. I have been informed by several Filipinos that in Spanish times the evolution from pulajanism to insurrection was but a step.

LADRONES.

Ladronism, beyond the ordinary, is confined to the provinces of Iloilo, Occidental Negros, and Capiz, where the stealing of carabao has been a most lucrative occupation since far back into Spanish times. The rinderpest carried off carabao and cattle in such great numbers that the price rose from 30 to 130 pesos a head within a few years. It is not to be said that all carabao sold bring the highest price, but that price is the one necessary to pay in transacting a legitimate sale. People who require carabao may purchase them at from 30 to 50 pesos from agents who are in communication with the ladrones and carry on this business as a regular occupation in conjunction with municipal officials who issue false certificates. As herein before stated, the activity of the constabulary in the three provinces mentioned, with the assistance of the provincial officials and the courts, have materially reduced the illegal traffic in carabao in the past year. During the past six months the relation between the constabulary and the municipal officials has become more cordial as the result of a better understanding and closer personal acquaintance. There are to be found in all the provinces some presidentes and other municipal officials who are wide awake, energetic, and progressive, and who are aiding in every way possible to perfect their government under existing laws and to better the condition of their people. There are others who by lack of education and contact with and a knowledge of the world beyond their own province do not show those ideas of or efforts toward progressiveness which is desired. There are others, but I believe the per cent is small, who are known to be unscrupulous and crooked or who are at least strongly suspected of malfeasance in office. In many instances provincial governors and provincial boards have shown considerable hesitancy in taking stern measures against these crooked officials, because of the difficulty of obtaining proof, and in some instances because the crooked officials were the only persons in the pueblo with sufficient education and intelligence to act as such. Where proof is positive, and other conditions being equal, the recalcitrant officials have usually been prosecuted vigorously. Municipal officials are, as a rule, prone to sectionalism, in that their public spirit is confined to the limits of their pueblo, and a marked degree of selfishness is shown in the hesitancy to render assistance to a neighboring pueblo when attacked or threatened by a band of ladrones or outlaws. However, it has been found that when pulijanism or ladronism assumed such a serious nature as to threaten or to do harm to all towns alike, the people are readily stirred to united action and volunteers from different towns unite together and go out into the hills in conjunction with the constabulary, performing most excellent and effective work. Municipal officials were at first prone to look upon the constabulary as personal enemies who were imposing themselves without cause or authority upon the community, but in time of trouble they learned that the constabulary are bound by no favoritism, limits of time, means, or energy, and the cordiality there cemented is usually maintained.

CHOLERA.

The spread of cholera and the great mortality in all the provinces of this district during the latter part of 1902 was the cause of considerable agitation by reason of the

spread of reports among the ignorant people that the Spanish frailes and the American people were only endeavoring to kill off the people by poisoning the wells, and that they were dying of poison and not of cholera. These reports, of course, occasioned considerable anxiety among the white population, but as the better class of natives apparently did what they could to discredit this belief, it shortly died a natural death. In the year of 1884 these same reports are said to have caused the massacre of many foreigners in Manila. At this time cholera exists in nearly all the provinces, but not to an alarming degree.

DROUGHT AND FAMINE.

The sudden rise in the price of rice in the fall of 1902 occasioned great hardship throughout the provinces, which was relieved in some measure by the selling of rice by the government. As a rule, however, this did not reach the ones who were the real sufferers, owing undoubtedly to the lack of transportation and lack of a proper force to handle the distribution. In those provinces where camotes and corn are grown there can be said to have been but little suffering, but when in October the dry season came on, all these southern islands experienced a drought unprecedented in the memory of some of the oldest inhabitants. From October to the first of June the country was practically burned up by the sun, and the prospects for the poor people, who depended upon their little farms for their livelihood, became worse and worse. The severe storm of June 3 and the few rains of the week previous, while it occasioned considerable damage to shipping and to houses and crops in the island of Panay, came as a great relief and encouragement throughout the southern islands. It may not have reached all sections, but the greater portion received sufficient rain to enable the people to plant their crops, which can be harvested in three months.

EX-INSURGENTS.

This name is falling more and more out of common use and is now usually applied to malcontents and unreconstructed agitators, swelled-head oratorical youths, and those vicious, characterless individuals whose ideas of their own importance was far greater than what even the more reputable insurgent chiefs could see. Some of the most loyal supporters of the government and of those who are exerting both public and private influence to maintain and advance the present government are those public officials who formerly occupied prominent positions in the insurgent cause, and although they may still have hopes of ultimate independence and will undoubtedly work for it, I doubt very much if it will be other than by legitimate means. There may be some who may go wrong, but as it is, the outlook does not appear to me other than satisfactory to the government.

MILITARY.

During the first half of this fiscal year many military posts in various parts of the islands were abandoned and permanent posts established on the islands of Guimaras, Cebu, Leyte, and Samar. The withdrawal of the military was in most instances under protest of both American and native residents, as the existence of an armed force had for so long accustomed them to the feeling of security that they feared the danger from outlaws. The presence of a large armed force in a town was also a considerable item in the matter of revenue, as the soldiers usually spend their money freely. Although there have been some calls for the military on the part of the civilians and natives since concentration, the only case where they have been called upon for active field operations was in the province of Surigao. A company of scouts was stationed on the Gandara River in Samar to aid in assuring the peace in that section, and American soldiers were sent to Misamis, upon the request of the provincial governor, to disabuse the minds of the ignorant of the belief that the Americans had abandoned the islands and by a show of force prevent what he believed to be an attempt at a general uprising.

PROVINCIAL JAILS.

Pursuant to Act 610, United States Philippine Commission, and by executive order of the civil governor, the guarding of the provincial jails in the provinces of Capiz, Cebu, Leyte, and Misamis has been turned over to the charge of the senior inspector of constabulary, under the supervision of the provincial governor. This was made necessary by the poorly organized and thoroughly undisciplined force of provincial jail guards, whose duty it was to guard the jails, and because of the numerous jail deliveries and the danger threatened by letting loose upon the community a most

desperate and dangerous class of outlaws. Enlisted men of the constabulary now act as jail guards, and the responsibility for the safe-keeping of the prisoners within the jail lies entirely with the senior inspector. No one is admitted to the provincial jail, and no prisoners are allowed to go out therefrom except under the written authority of the provincial governor addressed to the officer of constabulary in charge. As a rule the provincial jails are far from being secure, and require an exceptionally large guard and constant vigilance to prevent the escape of prisoners. The turning over of these jails to the constabulary should not lessen the feeling of responsibility of the provincial board in making the necessary repairs and improvements to the jail. Commendable effort has been made in some provinces, but there is yet great room for improvement, and it should be prompt and immediate.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Some of the defects of justices of the peace courts may be gleaned from the following extract from a letter communicated by the undersigned to Mr. Grant T. Treat, supervisor of fiscals, on June 5, in reply to a letter requesting suggestions to be incorporated in a book of instructions to be prepared for the guidance of justices of the peace:

"Assuming that a large majority of the justices of the peace administer their duties after the old Spanish procedure and that the evils of such procedure are in a measure provided against in many laws enacted by the Commission, I have to suggest that the book of instructions take up separately each of the laws which defines the duties, power, and limits of power of a justice of the peace court, and that clear and concise instructions, both positive and negative, be given that the justices of the peace may understand better how to administer the law. A paragraph on mode of procedure in investigations of criminal cases and the preparation of the papers in such would serve to expedite the matter and save the justices of the peace criticism for holding a man in confinement an unreasonable length of time while investigating the case. It is known by common report that justices of the peace frequently settle matters brought before them in the most convenient manner, which is not in conformity with the law, and often leaves the justice liable to severe censure, if not prosecution for irregularities in office. The careful specification of the limits of his power and a list of 'don'ts' would serve to confine the justice of the peace within the scope of his authority. The practice of continuing investigations of criminal cases for further investigation and consideration, as holiday, each fiesta day, and sometimes fiesta weeks, results in nothing more than a clear violation of the law and abuse of the rights of the accused.

"Another matter is the necessity for providing justices of the peace with various blank forms and ruled record books, with a view to having a clear record or report of every case brought before the justice of the peace which may require later investigation.

"If it is possible to incorporate in these regulations that warrants for members of the constabulary must be served through the officer commanding, it would not only serve the best interests of the constabulary service, but would prevent in many cases the abuse of members of the constabulary without their having the benefit of the assistance of their officers. It is advised that where the judge of the court of first instance issues a subpoena for a member of the constabulary, that the senior inspector be first conferred with, that the service may not be injured by having the men removed from their stations without his knowledge, which in some cases might assume the serious.

"I believe that every justice of the peace should be required to pass a prescribed examination in laws and procedure at least once each two years; that they should be organized as a separate branch of the insular or provincial governments and that a justice of the peace be not appointed for a pueblo or section in which he or his relatives have property interests, and that they be paid a regular salary from the provincial funds on a scale based on the population of the pueblo."

THE CONSTABULARY.

Each province in this district is divided into sections under the command of an officer and in most of the provinces these sections are administered as a company in the Regular Army. The following reports are required to be rendered to these headquarters:

(1) A statistical monthly return by the senior inspector, including a synopsis of summary court proceedings and a report of occurrences and conditions in the province during the month. The report of occurrences and conditions is restricted in nothing and is contemplated to cover every event and those conditions which bear upon the